Man reaches settlement in Coal Creek Canyon animal cruelty case

A man accused of killing his dog in June and leaving him on the side of the road near Coal Creek Canyon Road has reached a plea agreement.

On Tuesday, 26-year-old Anthony Holliday pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty. All other charges were dismissed as part of the agreement.

In court, attorneys said that as part of the agreement, they agreed to a 90-day probationary period of home confinement. Holliday is currently out of bail and will return for sentencing on July 9.

No booking photo was available.

According to a July 6 news release, the young, neutered male was found June 23 on the side of a private road near Coal Creek Canyon Road.

Boulder County Sheriff’s Office deputies were initially called to a report of a suspicious item. Upon arrival, officers found a dead dog wrapped in plastic and a sheet. According to the affidavit, the dog was in a carrier bag with concrete on the bottom and a strap around its neck and body. According to the affidavit, it appeared that whoever put the dog in the bag attempted to encase it in concrete, as concrete was loosened in large quantities around the dog.

According to court records, Holliday is suspected of harming the dog on June 14.

A wildlife camera on the property captured a suspicious Home Depot van that had damage to the passenger side from the rear tire. Last month, the sheriff’s office said the van may have been driven by a person who left the dog behind.

The dog underwent a necropsy which revealed multiple broken ribs and two skull fractures. An affidavit concluded the dog died from blunt force trauma.

Police determined Holliday’s address after checking records at Home Depot. After receiving photos of Holliday’s dogs from an apartment employee, they were able to determine that Holliday’s dog was the one that was found, according to the affidavit.